davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

Probably as singular an Incident as ever
took place in the annals of war happened
here. On Sept. H. Bragg assaulted, and
was repulscd Sept. Is, Bragg again de-
manded surrender, and was second time
refused. The Conrcderates Withdrew then,
but rcappeared third time in force. Bragg,
sent flag OF truce 10 the garrison, however,
calling for its surrender in the name OF hui
manity. lie had his whole army around
them, he declared, and il he was forced TO
attack again it would be useless shedding
OF blood, for the garrison was doomed at all
hazard. Tho little Union garrison held a
council Of war. Il was determined not to
surrender unless the commanding officer Of
tho garrison was permitted to make . per-
sonal inspection OF Briggs camp, to prove
tho truth OF bis statement. This was tho
answer sent hack to tho Confederate COM
inander. Strangely enough the offer was &C.
cspted by Bragg. and Col. Wilder went in
person and was escorted through the Confed-
crate quarters the evening Of Sept 10. He
found an army Of q, 900 men, with Is pieces
OF artillery, against his handful Of less than
1000. He decided that further resistance was
useless, and surrendered Munfordsville, with
tho honors Of war, to Bragg, Sept II. There
had been bloody lighting during the four
days The flag Of the Fifty seventh Indiana
was cut down after having iB bullet holes
shot through IL. Wi!der's resistance had been
a gallant and stubborn one. A raw recruit
Of the Seventeenth Indiana. printer, sat at
an enbrasure and with his own hands fred
over 500 shots. His comrades loaded for
him.
Newspaper letters Of the time say that
Bragg remarked to Wilder after tho sur
render: "You have ruined the best brigade
Of my army"
After Munfordsville, Bragg marched to
Prewitt's Knob, Buell. following him with all
his army. Buell. had sent for Thomas from
Nashville, leaving Negley in command there.
Thomas Joined Buell. with the First division
Sept. 20. Buell. prepared to give battle at
once, but while he did so Bragg's army sud
denly gave him tho slip and marched toward
Louisville. They did not go there, however,
but again suddenly changed their course and
marched to Bardstown
Maj. Gen. Lowell H. Rousseau was one OF the
most accomplished officers of the army OF the
Cumberland He was Kentuckan, born in 1918,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03
Floriiian, born in ia25, anc

IN 1863,
Bragg, in arranging the plan OF campaign,
ordered Kirby Smith to move through enst-
ern Kentucky 90 Lexington, and then push
Oh straight TO the Ohio river and take posses
sion of Cincinnati. Bragg himself was to
lead an army through central Kentucky and
como out on the Ohio river at Louisville.
While in the interior the two generals were To
make junction at Frankfort, tho capital OF
the state, il practicable, and proclaim Con
Tolerate government
Cen. William Nelson had been ordered by
Buell. to take charge of the Union defer
of Kentucky At this time the federal gen
eral, George W. Morgan, was ut Cumber-
land Gap, watching lest the Confederates
should try to get through into Kentucky
there. lie sent out detnchmcnts Of cavalry
to watch the ncighboring gaps Kirby
Smith sent Gen. Stevenson with his brigade
to engage Morgan's small force, while he him
self led his main army with all speed on into
kentucky Gen. Morgan was thus cut Or
from re-cnforcements and supplies After
some days on half rations lie was forced to
abandon Cumberland Gap altogether, retreat
ing with his command 10 the Ohio river.
During this time Kirby Smiths main army
was nearing the fat central Kentucky region.
Tho last OF August they suddenly appeared
before Richmond.
Kirby Smiths men had little TO cot but
green corn on their raid into Kentucky. IL
Is noticeable throughout the war TINT the
southern soldiers never carried quantities OF
food along, and were never numbered with
baggage III can whip any army that Is fol
lowed by flock Of cattle" was a saying OF
Stonewall JacksonB.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03
BRAGG AND BUELL..
The Invasion Of Kcatucky
Twenty-Five Years Ago.
RACING FOR LOUISVILLE.
The Battles at Richmond and
Perryville, Ky.

A Raes for Chattsnooga-Rsids Of the
Confederate Gems. Morgan aud Kirby
Smith In Neutrality-suspicious. 1t
Cipcinastl-Its Defense BY Gen. Low.
walIses-Doath OF Gen. William Ncl-
son.Brsvs Defence Of Col wilder at
Observation-Disclosures aud Chass.
"The attempt 10 destroy the Union OF These
states We believe to he . crime, not only
against Kentucky but against all mankind. "
So declared tho loyal legislature OF Ken
lucky in the autumn OF 1861. At the same
time bin was passed calling out 10000
Union volunteers.
In the southern part of the state. however,
there was strong secession sentiment. and
early in September, 1861, Bishop Leondas
Polk had occupied Columbus, KY, with a
considerable Confederate force.
Finally it was resolved by the Confederates
10 make a bold dash for tho fertile aud
famous Blue Grass region OF Kentucky It's
beeves and fast horses, its wheat, corn aud
sugtfi' cured hams were n suggestion OF land
flowing with milk and honey TO the appetite
Of the southern army boys. Confederate
soldiers were never over fed. Perhaps that
was ono reason why they were such good
Gp htprS
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

them at Camp Joe Holt on the Ohio side Of the
river, on account Of Kentuckys neutrality
He was brigadier general OF volunteers
in 1861. lie fought ut Shiloh, and CALAMITY
against Bragg at Pe,ryville, Ky, and there
upon was made major general Of volun-
tcers. He was at Chickamauga, and organized Il
famous raid into Alabama. The next step in his
varied career was an election to congress- I'M
mediately on the close OF the war, Then once
more into the army in which he was appointed a
regular bryadier general and sent on duty to
Alaska. He was recalled aud sent to command
at New Orleans where he died in 1869. Gen.
Rousseau was man of magnificent physical ap'
pearance. the typical big Kcntuckian."
Buell. hastened on to Louisville. He won
the race, IL Bragg had really meant to go
there. But Bragg himself says in his report
that at this time he found himself in "hostie
country" with only three days food for his
men. He therefore determined TO defect his
course to the right instead Of proceeding still
further into a hostile country, to fix bis head
quarters at BardstOwn and draw supplies
from Lexington.
Buell. and Bragg each claimed to he at
tempting to draw the other into battle.
At all events, however, this purposeless
trnmping through Kentucky had done little
good for the army Of Gen. Buell. Reaching
Louisville, it encamped on the river shore, be-
low the city.
"And when we got there there were only
six boys OF my regiment who stacked arms
on the sand," says a private who tells the
story Of B,iell's chase through Kentucky.
The other men OF the regiment had drop
ped out by the way, either fallen through
fatigue or been lost by struggling. The other
regiments were in not much better condition
than the one mentioned when they encamped
on the sand below Louisville. And after
this river was reached thousands more drop
ped out, deserted or struggled"
Tho DIV that the last OF Buell's army
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03


In ire Mexican war. Ho had also served in the
Seminois gar. He resigned from the regular
army and Sas planter in Louisiana In 1861. when
he rwns appointed a Confederate brigadier
general In February. 1852, he was made
Z major general. He, too, WINS engaged
at the battle Of Shiloh. After his invasion Of
Kentucky he fought Rosecrans at Mnrfreesboro
career mostly ended at the battle of Mission
Ridge 1862 where he was driven back by q rant.
Gen Bragg died at Galveston. Tex, in 1876.
Such were the two leaders who were to try
against each other, not only their racing powers,
but their strategic md fighting ability.
Bragg entered Kentucky Sept. 5 with over
10000 men. He thus had two days the
start Of Buell.
This September, while the famous county
fairs take place at Richmond, Lexington.
Cynthiana and Paris, with their display of
fleet horses, shining Jerseys and short horned
cattle and beautiful women, some giny-
boards doubtless remember that twenty-five
years ago, this month, there were very few
county fairs in the magnificent Blue Grass
region. They were broken up by the tramp
OF armies, the hiss Of bursting shells and the
thundeious sound Of artillery.
1t was Buell's concentration Of his army at
Murfrcesboro that gave Bragg free scope to
start where he would unmolested.
Sept. z Buell. started after him with
nearly 10000 men, He meant to overtake
Bragg and force him to q battle. His divi
sion commanders were Gems. Ammen, Thos.
L. Crittenden, Alex Mcdowell McCook,
Wood, Rousseau and Robt. h. Mitchell. He
crossed the Cumberland at Nashville on
his road north, and left there three divisions
under Thomas as q garrison.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03


'Then," said the gallant soldier, II die content
Tell my wife and children that my last thoughts
were OF them
Near the old camps OF the Union troops
two miles north from the scene Of the first en-.
gagement, Manson made another stand. Hero
was some hard fighting, but again tho Con.
federates were victorious. At this time Gen.
Nelson arrived, took command and arranged
for final stand on slight elevation near the
cemetery In front OF Richmond Here the
Federal raw recruits, decimated to about 9, 500
men, made their third and last rally against
an enemy vastly superior In numbers and dis
ciplinc The Confederate line was twice re-
pulsed Immediately to the right Of the come
terry, but the Union line was finally broken
aud fauked and the day was hopelessly lost.
Cen Nelson was twice wounded In this action.
Gen. Manson was captured.
In the battle OF Richmond there were Il, 900
Confederate troops and thirtysix pieces Of
artillery. The Union forces consisted Of
about 1000 men. The Confederates lost over
900 in killed and wounded. Tho Union troops
lost 8s5 Besides that, 2,o00 Of them were
made p isonera
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

YEN, JOHN II, MUKUNN. Tieut Col VIM
n.:, So, "a ~,
Courtland Irentlce, one Oh Das'. Duhes ON ON
cers and son OF George ~ Prentice, or Inc
Louisvilie journal ,, DC pn,oh @i.or y ooit.
uary nollco IN mo 1Eu,,la, Oh ms ssseSlolis y
son was pathe.ic Illustration Oh tne sIate Oh
paoiic sen,iment ~ hs T az .nls tune.
AT Clntnian, .ue rederai .roops were u,
not pursuit OF morgan. lie tnercIore wneele,l
ana turned southwark, marching through
ttchnond, ny, 10 I'alks.hie, iein,' nere
Tor the ,lhc ne rested on us wei, won lalrels'
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

Shortly after he retrcnted from Corinth In
May, Gen. Bcauregard, who was in poor
health. gave up the command Of the Confcd
crate department Of the Mississippi His nu-
ihOrity was turned over to Maj. Gen. Drax-
ton Bragg, who took command OF the army
June 10, lsG2 IL was then ut Tupelo Miss,
town on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, fifty
miles southwest Of Cornth.
On taking command Of tho Confederate
force, Bragg Mt once started IL towards Chat
tlnooga, Tenn. Once there, he had an ute
rior dream, which ho thought might I've real
lzed He would strike thence into Kentucky,
strike boldly and quickly. His southern
army, powerful and enthusiastic, could
drive out nll the Union troops that were then
in the state After that, WHAT What hut
The establishing OF q secessionst government,
and the gaining OF Kentucky for the Confed-
eracy.
Such was the dream Of Maj. Gen. BraxtOn
bragg, G. s. A., in June, 1862.
Before the grand expedition started there
had been various Confederate incuisioDs and
raids. Knoxville and East Tennessee were in
possession Of the Confederates.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03
GEN. DUELL.

made commander Of the army Of the Ohio. Flo
wns mustered out Of the volunteer service in
1904, and resigned from the regular army in 1865
He Is now a resident In Louisville.
In August Gen. Buell. had been under the
impression that Bragg meant to move against
Nashville. Tho Federal commander had &C
corlingly concentrated his main army at
Murfrecsboro. Early in September he be-
came aware that Braggs movements meant
the invasion OF Kentucky and the north.
Thereupon, Sept. Z he set his army in mo
ton for Louisville. It has been already
mentioned that this city was Dragg's object
i've point also. The second race between
Bragg and Buell. began therefore.
Mai Gen. Bragg, Buell's opponent, was a West
Point graduate OF tho class OF 1881. He was n
North Carolinian, and was three years older than
Buell. Like most prominent officers on both the
Union and Confederate sides, Bragg had served
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

against Kirby Smith at Frankfort. Tho rest
OF tho army moved by different routes against
Bragg himself at Bardstown.
There was perpetual series of cavalry and
artillery shirmishes with the Confederatcs
after leaving Louisville, which kept Buel's
army back and gave Bragg time to withdraw
from Darlstown. Buell. reached that place
eight hours after lis enemy had left it, Re-
ports reached Buell. from time to time indi-
eating the direction Bragg had taken He
changed his line Of march accordingly, now
lsre, now there, till at length 1t seemed clear
that Bragg was either at Perryvil!e or Har'
rodsburg.
Oct. I, Buell. came within three miles Of
Perryville. There he found tie Confsderates
In foroo. Gilbert's corps was with The Fed.
eral commander ct this time. McCooks
corps was at this time on the Harrodsbarg
road, and Crittsuden's corps was on the
Lebanon road
Critteudeu n q fsmo,u parns in Kentucky an.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

Op W Ito zen. WIN NFi-ooN'
served in the United States navy. That year he
was appointed brigadier general Of the army
and sent Oh duty to his own state. He recruited
thousands Of Union volunteers. At Shiloh
he commanded a division, remaining with
Buells army up to Bragg's invasion Of Ken
lucky After the battle Of Richmond he was
sent to look after the defenses Of Louisville,
for that city expected a visit from Bragg
when Kirby Smith was advancing on Louis
vile.
With great vigor Nelson set about fortify
ing the Kentucky metropolis, but his way was
different from that resorted to by Lew Wal
lace. Wallace issued proclamation calling
on the citizens Of Cincinnati to aid in throw
ing up the earthworks, md wealthy and PROM
inent citizens responded to the call and dug
with their own hands Nelson, on the other
hand, gave out the following order:
Having been called on for 900 laborers, it
Is ordered that the citizens Of Louisville and
Jefferson county report to Col. Henry Dent
the number Of slaves each will furnish. and
they will deliver them into the custody OF Col
Dent, to be used in the erection OF fortified
tions. Col. Dent is ordered TO impress n suffi-
cient number OF laborers to erect the works OF
defense"
Wherever negroes were found ut large in
tho streets they were seized and set to work,
and there was wild scurrying to and fro OF
dusky forms, and hiding away as soon as the
order became known. Thus the Notifications
at Covington were built voluntarily by citi.
zens of Cincinnati and vicinity. Those Of
Louisville were made by the forced labor Of
negro slaves.
Gen. Nelson was brave and able soldier.
But he had temper which was terror to
those who were forced to be about him. His
soldiers knew this well, and sometimes made
it serve their amusement One evening an
innocent looking civilian came into his camp
| inQuiring Tor the Quartermaster. The "boys,"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

commander was born In 1870. He was United
States consul TO Liverpool In President Taylors
time He entered the Union army in 1861, and in
tho fall Of that year became brigadier general OF
volunteers. He served at many OF the hardest
fought battles OF the war, such as Shiloh, Stone
River and Chickamauga. In lsUt he was sent
east and commanded n corps there. He was a
major general of volunteers, and, by breyet, OF
the regular army also. In the Buell. campaign
against Bragg he commanded the right wing or
the Army Of the Ohio
During the night of Oct. 7, Buell. ordered
McCook and Crittenden at once to advance
and form in line of battle on the wings. Gil
bert's corps was the center. During the night
also Buell. had Il sharp little fight for creek
whence to get water for his army. He OBJ
tanned possession of the pools It is fighting
was done on the Federal side by Col Daniel
McCook
The battle Of Perryville was begun on the
morning of Oct. by an attempt to drive
McCook away from the precious water pools.
1t was repulsed, and in this preliminary fight
d Young Union division commander named
Philip Sheridan distinguished himself hand
somely.
There was no more fighting till the arrival
of McCook between 10 and II o'clock. He
Immediately found his divisions, Jackson's
and Rousseau's, in line on Gilbert's left.
The battle of Perryville began in a fight
for water McCook's position was near Doc
tors Fork of Chaplin creek. Rousseaus di-
vision advanced towards this creek to get
water, when they were fired on by the Con-
federate artillery. McCook's line formed on
Chaplln's Hills.
or McCOok's forces, Rousseau held the
right, and Gen. Terrell's brigade of Jackson's
division the extreme left. Starkweather'S
brigade was behind Terrelrs as a reserve.
About . O'Clock the Confederate Gen. Har-
dee came Oh to the attack with 10000 men,
the divisions Of Cheatham, Buckner and S.
r. Anderson. The Maxville road crossed
Doctors Fork Immediately in front Of the
Federal line, and this was the point the Con-
federates aimed at.
The Confedcratcs attacked first the extreme
left under Terrell. There was a strong fire
and Terrelrs raw recruits wavered. Their
division commander, Gen. James 3. Jackson,
rode CALAMITY to the front to rally them. In
a moment fragment Of shell struck him in
the breast and he fell from his horse dead in
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

by young Ken
lucky recruits,
and his whole
force in the state
now amounted to
not far from g.
900 men. Imne-
diately OH hearing
Of B Il dips ap-
proach, B rag 6
wrote to Polk to
como at once to
Frankfort, by way
Of Bloom'fi
Bragg looked for a
battle with Buell..
Polk was tO Dre-
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

Of poor parents. Tho
clopcdias say
that in his early
youth lie worked at
road making" which
statement IL not as
clear rs one could
wish. At any rate,
he WINS self educated
and studied law, and
never went to West
Point. He won a high
place as q criminal
lawyer at louisville.
He took the Union
side in 1861, and
raised two regiments
in Kentucky, but was
pt,1,rnl 80 nnaptAr
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

&C b ed Louis
vile, Sept. %, a
tragic event hap.
pencd then which
threw the whole
city into excite
Inent. This was the
fatal shooting Of
Gen. William Mel
son by Brig. Gen.
JEFF. c. Davis, Of
Indiana, in a quar-
rel.
Gen. Nelson was
born in Maysville,
Kentucky, in 1925.
JYo <o1Sc1 ha hod
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

ana bridges, and
July II he cap
tured the town Of
Cynthinna, near
the Ohio river. A
battalion OF his
men, indeed, TN.
der Basil Duke.
penetrated quite
to the river, Arn-
ing the wealthy
old town Of Au-
gusta, a few miles
below Mnysville.
In the fight at Au-
gusta was killed
.z.S r11 Ill.,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03
MUNEOROSvltlE

Sept. Is, Bragg's cavalry had reached Nun.
louisville under command Of Gen. J. r.
Chalmers. At Munfordsville, on Green river.
was Federal garrison a little over 1900
strong, under Col. J. I. Wilder It was
stationed at the bridge where the Louisville
and Nashville railway crossed. After the
Confederate artillery and infantry had ar
rived Bragg called on Wilder to surrender
The demand was refused
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03
MARCHING THROUGH KENTUCKY.

We left Bragg at Bardstown Sept. 81.
Oct. | he left Gen. Ieonidas Polk in com
mand ut that town, and himself started to
Lexington. Polk had orders to SLOWLY re-
tire" to Bryantsville. Kirby Smith was at
this time in the interior of the state with his
army, waiting orders to join Bragg at Frank
fort.
There really was Confederate governor
of Kentucky for few days. Oct. l Bragg
and Kirby Smith united their forces at
Frankfort. Then Bragg was good as his
word. He and Kirby Smith installed Rich
ard Halves as provisional Confederate gov
ernor Of Kentucky. Bragg had set up Q
Confederate government in the state.
Richard Halves had been member of the
United States congress The Confederate
government in Kentucky did not, however,
last long A week later 1t retreated swiftly
southwark, governor and all.
Bragg learned a5 Lexington, Oct. 9, that
Buell. had started after him again. Bragg's
own army had been considerably increased
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

Kirby Smith was a
a West Point grulu.
ate Of 1876. He wax
In the Mexican var,
and was assistant
professor Of mathe.
inatics at West Point
for n time. He re-
manned IN tho United
States army till 1854,
AMI then Joined tho
southern army He
was at stone Elgcr,
and continued in the
service till the close
OF the war. He sur.
rendered Gen. Can
nv. MT Baton Rouge.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

first Indiana, was n
very prominent bus.
mess man OF Terre
Haute, and one Of tho
most promising sol.
diers that Indiana
sent to the war. Nor.
tally wounded in the
midst OF q crushing
defeat, his first words
to q young officer
who attended him
. were, Have | done
my duty' Have l
done oil that could
he done'" Ives, Col
onel, You have done
- Nu Ia =,